By Muriel Bristol | December 18, 2022
Lewis N. Berry was born in Strafford, NH, March 7, 1824, son of Mesach and Eliza (Kimball) Berry.
(The known children of Mesach and Eliza J. (Kimball) Berry were: Lewis N. Berry (1824–1863), Sarah E. Berry (1834–1874), Martha J. Berry (1836–1919), and Alice F. Berry (1844–1884)).
Meshach Berry headed a Strafford, NH, household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 30-39 years [himself], one female aged 30-39 years [Eliza J. (Kimball) Berry], one male aged 15-19 years [Lewis N. Berry], two females aged 5-9 years [Sarah E. Berry and Martha J. Berry], and one female aged under-5 years. One member of his household was engaged in Agriculture. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of John Berry and Hiram Berry.
Lewis N. Berry married in Farmington, NH, June 17, 1848, Emily Maria Leighton, both of Farmington, NH. Rev. J.H. Nutter performed the ceremony. She was born in Somersworth, NH, March 11, 1827, daughter of Tristram and Betsy (Peavey) Leighton.
Lewis Berry appeared in the Dover, NH, directory of 1848, as a cordwainer, boarding at B. Davis’s house.
Meshach Berry, a farmer, aged forty-six years (b. NH), headed a Strafford, NH, household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Eliza [(Kimball)] Berry, aged forty-five years (b. NH), Martha J. Berry, aged fourteen years (b. NH), and Ellis F. [Alice F.] Berry, aged six years (b. NH). Meshach Berry had real estate valued at $1,000.
Lewis N. Berry, a shoemaker, aged twenty-six years (b. NH), headed a Dover, NH, household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Emily [(Leighton)] Berry, aged twenty-three years (b. NH), Sarah Berry, aged seventeen years (b. NH), and Laura A. Sleeper, aged eighteen years (b. NH). They resided in a two-family residence with the household of Nathaniel Montgomery, a laborer, aged forty-three years (b. NH).
Sister Sarah E. Berry married (1st) in Farmington, NH, April 29, 1852, Asa B. Hayes, Jr. He was born in Farmington, NH, in January 1830, son of Asa B. and Mehitable (Hayes) Hayes.
Mother Eliza (Kimball) Berry died in Strafford, NH, October 16, 1853.
Daughter Jeannette E. Berry was born in Milton, June 24, 1858.
Mesach Berry, a workman, aged fifty-seven years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included M.J. [Martha J.] Berry, aged twenty-three years (b. NH), and A.F. [Alice F.] Berry, aged fifteen years (b. NH). His household appeared in the enumeration between those of [his son,] Lewis N. Berry, a shoe manufacturer, aged thirty-six years (b. NH), and E.R. Lord, aged thirty-nine years (b. NH).
Lewis N. Berry, a shoe manufacturer, aged thirty-six years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Emily [(Leighton)] Berry, aged thirty-three years, and Janette E. Berry, aged three years (b. NH). Lewis N. Berry had real estate valued at $1,500 and personal estate valued at $2,000. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of James M. Twombly, a farmer, aged sixty years (b. NH), and Mesach Berry, a workman, aged fifty-seven years (b. NH).
Wentworth Hayes, a farmer, aged eighty-one years (b. NH), headed a Farmington, NH, household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Asa B. Hayes, a farmer, aged thirty years (b. NH), Sarah E. [(Berry)] Hayes, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH), Clara J. Hayes, aged five years (b. NH), Jesse B. Hayes, aged three years (b. NH), Cora Bell Hayes, aged two months (b. NH), and Lucy A. Pease, aged twelve years (b. MA). Asa B. Hayes had real estate valued at $1,800 and personal estate valued at $1,500.
Lewis N. Berry of Milton paid $10 for his manufacturer’s license for September in the US Excise Tax of 1862.
Lewis Berry received an initial appointment as a Milton justice-of-the-peace, September 13, 1862.
L.N. Berry of Milton paid $22.39 as a 3% tax on 1,260 pairs of split brogan shoes (valued at $746.55) for the month of October 1862 in the US Excise Tax of 1862. He paid $35.80 as a 3% tax on 1,560 pairs of brogan shoes (valued at $1,193.43) for the month of November 1862. He paid $23.59 as a 3% tax on 840 pairs of brogan shoes (valued at $786.51) for the month of December 1862.
Mother-in-law Elizabeth “Betsy” (Peavey) Leighton died of a bilious colic in Farmington, NH, December 25, 1862, aged seventy-two years. (There is a question mark next to the “62” of 1862 on the death certificate). She had been a farmer.
L.N. Berry of Milton paid $109.47 as a 3% tax on 3,960 pairs of shoes (valued at $3,649.05) for the month of February 1863 in the US Excise Tax of 1863. He paid $88.45 as a 3% tax on 3,000 pairs of shoes (valued at $2,948.40) for the month of March 1863. He paid $107.81 as a 3% tax on 3,660 pairs of shoes (valued at $3,593.70) for the month of April 1863. He paid $175.86 as a 3% tax on 6,360 pairs of shoes (valued at $5,856.30) for the month of May 1863. He paid also $6.67 for a renewed manufacturer’s license in May 1863.
Lewis N. Berry died of softening of the brain in Milton, June 5, 1863, aged thirty-nine years, three months. He had been a shoe manufacturer.
Brother-in-law Asa B. Hayes, Jr., died of consumption in Farmington, NH, September 16, 1863, aged thirty-three years. He had been a farmer.
Father Mesach Berry died in Farmington, NH, May 6, 1864, aged sixty-one years.
Lewis Berry appeared posthumously in NH Political Manual of 1866, as a Milton justice-of-the-peace. The court roster column reserved for his 1867 reappointment bore instead a notation that he was “dead.”
MILTON. Justices – Charles Jones, State; Elbridge W. Fox, Joseph Plummer, Luther Hayes, Ebenezer Wentworth, Ezra H. Twombly, Joseph Mathes, Charles A. Cloutman, Asa Jewett, Elias S. Cook, Lewis Berry, Joseph Cook, Robert Mathes (McFarland & Jenks, 1866).
Sister Sarah E. (Berry) Hayes married (2nd) in Farmington, NH, August 27, 1867, John F. Scruton, she of Farmington, NH, and he of Strafford, NH. She was a lady, aged thirty-three years, and he was a farmer, aged twenty-six years. Rev. N.S. Tufts performed the ceremony. Scruton was born in Strafford, NH, November 8, 1841, daughter of Joseph and Louisa (Brock) Scruton.
Emily [(Leighton)] Berry, keeping house, aged forty-three years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. Her household included her daughter, Jennette E. Berry, at school, aged thirteen years (b. NH). They resided in a two-family residence with the household of John L. Wing, a works in shoe factory, aged forty-six years (b. ME).
John F. Scruton, works in shoe manufactory, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Farmington, NH, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Sarah E. [((Berry) Hayes)] Scruton, keeping house, aged thirty-two years (b. NH), Clara J. Hayes, at home, aged fifteen years (b. NH), Jessie B. Hayes, aged fourteen years (b. NH), Fannie S. Hayes, aged ten years (b. NH), Louis Scruton, aged two years (b. NH), and [Female] Scruton, aged two months (b. NH). John F. Scruton had personal estate valued at $1,000 and Sarah E. Scruton had real estate valued at $2,500.
Sister Martha Berry, without occupation, aged thirty-three years (b. NH), was one of about one hundred residents in the Rockingham County Farm in Brentwood, NH, at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. She could neither read nor write and was identified as being “idiotic.”
Geo. W. Webster, a shoe cutter, aged thirty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Haverhill, MA, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Harriet Webster, keeps house, aged thirty-four years (b. NH), Cora Webster, at home, aged four years (b. MA), Alice Berry, works in shoe factory, aged twenty-five years (b. NH), Hattie Jones, works in shoe factory, aged twenty-three years (b. NH), Lucas Poor, works in shoe factory, aged thirty years (b. NH), Greeley Cumming, a shoe contractor, aged thirty-five years (b. NH), Geo. S. Horn, works in shoe factory, aged twenty-five years (b. NH), Edward Hoyt, works in shoe factory, aged eighteen years (b. NH), John Gale, works in shoe factory, aged twenty years (b. NH), Elena Heart, no employment, aged sixty-two years (b. NH). Geo, Webster had real estate valued at $5,000 and personal estate valued at $1,000. Greeley Cumming has personal estate valued at $600; and Geo. S. Horn had person estate valued at $400.
Sister Alice F. Berry married in Barnstead, NH, April 2, 1871, Calvin C. Chesley, she of Haverhill, MA, and he of Barnstead, NH. He was a dentist, aged twenty-eight years, and she was aged twenty-five years. Rev. Hector Canfield performed the ceremony. Chesley was born in Barnstead, NH, circa 1842, son of Benjamin and Sally (Bodge) Chesley.
Father-in-law Tristram Leighton died in Rochester, NH, April 26, 1873.
Sister Sarah E. ((Berry) Hayes) Scruton died in Farmington, NH, January 14, 1874, aged thirty-nine years.
Son-in-law John F. Scruton married (2nd) in Barnstead, NH, November 23, 1876, Lydia A. Varney, he of Farmington, NH, and she of Madbury, NH. He was a farmer, aged thirty-five years, and she was a school teacher, aged thirty-six years. Rev. William Rogers performed the ceremony. She was born in Farmington, NH, circa 1840, daughter of Amos and Anna (Locke) Varney.
Emily [(Leighton)] Berry, works in shoe factory, aged fifty-three years (b. NH), headed a Dover, NH, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. Her household included her daughter, Jennette Berry, keeping house, aged twenty-two years (b. NH). They resided in a three-family residence at 30 Franklin Street with the households of John Wiggin, retired, aged sixty-four years (b. NH), and Lucy Nute, keeping house, aged sixty-one years (b. NH).
Oliver Waldren, a farmer, aged fifty-two years (b. NH), headed a Madbury, NH, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Mary E. Waldren, keeping house, aged fifty years (b. NH). and his servant, Martha J. Berry, a servant, aged forty-four years (b. NH).
Calvin C. Chesley, a dentist, aged thirty-seven years (b. NH), headed a Dover, NH, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Alice F. [(Berry)] Chesley, keeping aged thirty-five years (b. NH). They resided on Arch Street.
Brother-in-law Calvin C. Chesley appeared in the Dover, NH, directory of 1884, as a dentist in Bracewell’s building, with his house on Washington street, at its corner with Arch street.
Sister Alice F. (Berry) Chesley died of cancer in Dover, NH, June 4, 1884, aged thirty-nine years. E.S. Berry, M.D., signed the death certificate.
Brother-in-law Calvin C. Chesley died of paralysis in Barnstead, NH, September 29, 1889, aged forty-seven years, three months, and twenty-eight days. He had been a dentist. G.H. Hawley signed the death certificate.
Alice L. [(Berry)] Chesley, widow of Calvin C. Chesley, appeared posthumously in the surviving Veterans Schedule of the Eleventh (1890) Federal Census. Both were deceased. He had been a private in Company B of the Twelfth NH Volunteer Infantry.
Mrs. Emily Berry appeared in the Dover, NH, directory of 1892, as a tailoress at 438 Central avenue, boarding at 43 Grove street. Miss Jennette E. Berry appeared as a clerk at 380 Central av., boarding at 43 Grove street. Miss Fannie E. Morrison appeared as a cashier at 380 Central av., boarding at 43 Grove street.
Mrs. Emily Berry appeared in the Dover, NH, directory of 1895, as a tailoress, with her house on Milk street, near Central av. Jennette E. Berry appeared as a clerk at 380 Central av., boarding at Mrs. Emily Berry’s house.
Daughter Jennette E. Berry died in Dover, NH, March 20, 1897, aged thirty-eight years.
Abednigo Drew, a wheelwright, aged sixty-one years (b. NH), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of nine years), Ella J. Drew, a boarding-house keeper, aged fifty-five years (b. NH), his brother-in-law, Tristram A. Smith, aged forty-two years (b. NH), his aunt, Emily [(Leighton)] Berry, aged seventy-three years (b. NH), and his boarders, Augustus Oniel, a heel trimmer, aged forty-one years (b. NH), Joseph Schlenken, a dry goods salesman, aged twenty-two years (b. MA), and Annie Schlenken, aged twenty-one years (b. NH).
Martha Berry, aged sixty-four years (b. NH), was one of eleven boarders in the Old Ladies Home on Deer Street in Portsmouth, NH, at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census.
Emily M. (Leighton) Berry died of stomach cancer on Charles Street in Rochester, NH, February 7, 1904, aged seventy-six years, ten months, and eighteen days. She had resided in Rochester for five years, i.e., since circa 1897. Her previous residence had been in Dover, NH. Robert V. Sweet, M.D., signed the death certificate.
PERSONAL. Mr. and Mrs. G.I. White and Mrs. A.R. Leighton were in Rochester Wednesday, attending the funeral of Mrs. Emily Berry. H.W. Andrews of Dover took charge of the express office during Mr. White’s absence (Farmington News, February 12, 1904).
Martha H. Berry, aged eighty [seventy-four] years (b. NH), was an inmate at the Rockingham County Farm at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census.
Sister Martha Berry died of senility at the Rockingham County Farm in Brentwood, NH, March 21, 1919, aged eighty-six years. She was said to have been born in Rochester, NY [NH], but had entered into care from Rye, NH, about fifty years, previously, i.e., circa 1869. A.W. Mitchell, M.D., signed the death certificate.
Brother-in-law John F. Scruton died of broncho-pneumonia in Farmington, NH, May 11, 1927, aged eighty-five years, six months, and three days. He had resided in Farmington, NH, for sixty-two years, i.e., since circa 1864-65, with his previous residence having been in Strafford, NH. He had been a farmer. D.L. Stokes, M.D., signed the death certificate.
LOCAL. John Frank Scruton, aged 85, one of the oldest and most highly respected residents of this town, died at his home in West Farmington on Wednesday night. The funeral services will be held from the home Saturday afternoon at two o’clock. Owing to the lateness of the hour at which the report was received, it is impossible to publish a full account this week. Particulars will appear next week (Farmington News, May 13, 1927).
References:
Find a Grave. (2015, June 15). Martha Berry. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/147882459/martha-berry
Find a Grave. (2016, October 23). Alice F. Berry Chesley. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/171714470/alice-f-chesley
Find a Grave. (2020, May 31). Asa B. Hayes, Jr. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/210624862/asa-brewster-hayes
Find a Grave. (2016, April 7). John F. Scruton. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/160696850/john-f-scruton
Find a Grave. (2020. May 31). Sarah Elizabeth Berry [Hayes] Scruton. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/210624881/sarah-elizabeth-scruton
McFarland & Jenks. (1866). Political Manual for the State of New Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=g4ABAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA3-PA127
Milton Observer 